Comments on: Perry Terminates Board Members Investigating Execution

By: The Death Penalty as Political Gang Initiation | Dog Canyon

The Death Penalty as Political Gang Initiation | Dog Canyon — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 17:32:04 +0000

[...] capital punishment back to media prominence. Right-wingers, including Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who fired three board members of the state agency investigating Willingham’s execution, will want to reduce the case to a [...]

By: Monoj K Gupta

Monoj K Gupta — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 17:05:55 +0000

Glen:

I have watched the governor since 2004 election and found him to be arrogant, disrespectful to others. He is cunning, lying and untruthful in his statements and actions.

There are times he has acted as the supreme ruler and making calls in the areas where he is not qualified. One prime example is his executive order for the compulsory vaccination against the Papaloma virus. How much money did he get from the pharmaceutical company in that deal? His dishonesty shows even on his face.

He came close to being held accountable for the execution of an innocent man so he dissolved the investigation committee. This is the typical of the right wing GOP members of administration throughout the country. They know how to blame others but do not have the guts to admit their own fault.

Mr. Perry’ action in this case is disgraceful. He should resign from his office.

By: Glenn W. Smith

Glenn W. Smith — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:52:04 +0000

Once again, the Observer provides extraordinary coverage and insight. Everyone should read these pieces. Everyone should subscribe to the Observer.

By: junebaby

junebaby — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:47:59 +0000

May I also commend to your readers this editorial in the most recent edition of The Texas Observer:

http://www.texasobserver.org/editorial/beyond-a-reasonable-doubt

In the editorial is a link to: “Burn Patterns,” Dave Mann’s series of investigations into questionable arson convictions in Texas.

By: Joyce L. Arnold

Joyce L. Arnold — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:40:39 +0000

Thanks for today’s (Oct. 2) updates on this, Glenn. And to all who are commenting. We can help, I hope, by contacing Perry, using the resources of The Innocence Project, Texas Moratorium Network, and no doubt other resources about which I am unaware.

By: Perry’s Crime | Dog Canyon

Perry’s Crime | Dog Canyon — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:03:14 +0000

[...] and political strategist Paul Begala wrote us at DogCanyon with the following observation about our post earlier yesterday: Glenn, thanks for this important post. The eyes of the world are upon Texas, which has almost [...]

By: Eye on Williamson » The politics of death

Eye on Williamson » The politics of death — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 02:30:25 +0000

[...] innocent man was killed by the state. Here’s an excerpt from Glen Smith’s post at Dog Canyon. So Perry fired the commissioners, and the meeting’s been cancelled. Perry no doubt feels like a [...]

By: J. Walkup

J. Walkup — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 01:34:30 +0000

When I read about this on Huffington Post, I immediately searched for the New Yorker, and I have been sick ever since. Today, when I read about Perry’s latest trick, I became sick and angry. However, I don’t believe that Perry’s base will be bothered by this matter because they will just rationize that Mr. Willingham probably deserved execution for other reasons. I feel like our governor would be best described as a male Sarah Palin. He doesn’t seem to work very hard or be very intelligent. He certainly doesn’t know Texas history very well. I appreciate this post and the comments

By: Glenn W. Smith

Glenn W. Smith — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:43:26 +0000

As usual, Paul, you’ve described the contradiction simply and perfectly: teabaggers don’t trust government to write an insurance policy, but they trust government with power to execute their fellow citizens. I, too, know principled conservatives who don’t trust government with that kind of power. Rick Perry is the best argument conservative or liberal death penalty opponents have for not investing the state with such power.

By: Paul Begala

Paul Begala — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 00:30:54 +0000

Glenn, thanks for this important post. The eyes of the world are upon Texas, which has almost certainly executed an innocent man. Bully for you for tying this outrage to Perry’s anti-government rants with the teabaggers.

Let’s see if I get this straight: Perry and the teabaggers don’t trust the government to write an insurance policy, but they do trust the government to lock a man in a cage for years, to strap that man down on a gurney, and fill his veins with poison – in the case of poor Mr. Willingham, for a crime he did not commit. I know a lot of principled conservatives who oppose the death penalty, based on their distrust of government. Perry, of course, is neither truly principled nor truly conservative. He is a small man, a moral coward, and a political opportunist of the worst sort. Thank you for calling this to my attention.